Doi, Hibino set up all-Japanese final in Hiroshima

Doubles partners Misaki Doi and Nao Hibino will meet in the Japan Women's Open singles final.

Published : Sep 14, 2019 14:36 IST

Japan's Misaki Doi defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-3.
Japan's Misaki Doi defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-3.
lightbox-info

Japan's Misaki Doi defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-3.

Home favourites Misaki Doi and Nao Hibino moved into the Japan Women's Open final on Saturday.

For the first time since it was founded in 2009, the WTA Tour event will have a Japanese champion after Doi and Hibino got through their semifinals matches. Doi upset second seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-3 to set up a meeting with doubles partner Hibino.

The 28-year-old Doi managed to take her chances, converting three of six break points as Kudermetova capitalised on just one of four. Hibino overcame Mihaela Buzarnescu 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 to reach her fifth WTA Tour final.

First all-Japanese final since 1997

It will also be the first all-Japanese WTA singles final since 1997, when Naoko Sawamatsu beat Yuka Yoshida in Jakarta.

Doi and Hibino have also reached the doubles final in Hiroshima, with Christina McHale and Valeria Savinykh awaiting them in that decider.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment